Page 343 - The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice

Figure 9-3. To get rid of a winch wrap in a hurry,
without leaving the cockpit, Icicle-Hitch a spare line Bolt Wrench
to the standing part of the wrapped line ahead of the If you find yourself wrenchless, thread two nuts
winch. Lead the spare line, via turning block if nec- onto a large bolt. Adjust the nuts until they just fit
essary, to another winch (dashed line) and haul it to on either side of the nut you want to work on. Turn.
put slack in the wrapped line so it can be cleared.
Alternatively, bring the lazy jibsheet around and lead out, wrapping itself a few times around the leeward
it to the other winch (solid line). shrouds. You have to dodge in a hurry when the
shackle bow finally slips loose and comes hurtling
around once, counterclockwise, then lead the tail to directly at you. Hilarious.
another winch. Crank away until the turn tears free.
Repeat until the turns are clear. Watch out for a sud- Response: Since you are a prudent sailor and were
den surge as the jam diminishes. prepared to reef as soon as you thought of it, there’s
no reason to panic. Lead a spare halyard aft, set
Problem: Preparing to reef, you take up smartly it up as a temporary topping lift, and proceed to
on the main topping lift, not realizing that the pin reduce sail. Or sheet the main into the gallows, drop
on the boom-end shackle has been gradually work- the sail, and put in the reef while it’s down. Now ask
ing loose and has chosen this precise moment to fall yourself, “Do I really need that loose topping lift?”
out. Braced for appreciable tension, you appear to Sometimes the safest, most appropriate procedure
dive for the deck when the pin comes out—a phys- is to do nothing. If it isn’t fouling any other lines or
ical gag worthy of Buster Keaton. With the bow of sails, let it be. Maybe it’ll shake loose and you can
the shackle still hanging in the Eyesplice and giv- at least haul on it until the end fetches up against
ing it carrying weight, the loose end soars up and the block aloft so it stays out of the way. The wind

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